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Biomedical subjects

K Iida

Publications and source records attributed to K Iida.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Maternal and fetal nitric oxide synthesis is decreased in pregnancies with small for gestational age infants.

Our purpose was to evaluate whether maternal and fetal nitric oxide synthesis in pregnancies with small for gestational age (SGA) infants are different from those in pregnancies with appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants. Maternal and fetal circulating nitrate and nitrite concentrations were compared between 30 pregnancies with AGA and 10 pregnancies with SGA at birth. End-products of nitric oxide synthesis were measured in maternal and cord venous blood samples using a fluorometric assay. Umbilical artery blood pH and PO2 were also measured. Maternal circulating nitrite and nitrate concentrations (6.91 +/- 1.27 microM) in pregnancies with SGA were significantly lower than those (11.69 +/- 1.33 microM) in pregnancies with AGA (P = 0.015). Fetal circulating nitrite and nitrate concentrations (7.54 +/- 1.09 microM) in pregnancies with SGA were also significantly lower than those (11.24 +/- 1.08 microM) in pregnancies with AGA (P = 0.024). There were no significant differences in umbilical artery blood pH and PO2 between the two groups. These results suggest that maternal and fetal nitric oxide synthesis are decreased in pregnancies with SGA infants.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Neutropenic colitis as a complication of high-dose chemotherapy for refractory testicular cancer.

A 44-year-old man received high-dose chemotherapy with carboplatin, etoposide and cyclophosphamide followed by autologous peripheral-blood stem-cell transplantation for treatment of refractory nonseminomatous testicular cancer (seminoma plus choriocarcinoma). The patient developed fever, watery diarrhea and abdominal pain at 10 days after the initiation of high-dose chemotherapy. Radiological examinations revealed adynamic ileus with thickened colon and small bowel wall and increasing ascites over the next 3 days. The patient subsequently suffered from disseminated intravascular coagulation, renal failure and hyperbilirubinemia despite systemic antibiotic therapy. Intensive medical care could barely avoid the fatal outcome. Neutropenic colitis has been recognized as a complication of acute leukemia or aplastic anemia. The present case indicates that this serious gastrointestinal complication can occur under profound neutropenic conditions induced by intensive chemotherapy for solid cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Trans-sellar color Doppler ultrasonography during transsphenoidal surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To improve the safety and efficacy of transsphenoidal pituitary adenoma surgery, we investigated transsphenoidal intraoperative color Doppler ultrasonography using a biplane transducer system. METHODS: We studied 23 patients with pituitary adenomas (18 patients with macroadenomas and 5 patients with microadenomas) who underwent transsphenoidal surgery. The Hitachi EUB555 color Doppler ultrasound system (Hitachi Medical, Tokyo, Japan) was used with a pediatric biplane transesophageal echo cardiography probe (EUP-ES533, 7.5 MHz, biplane phased array sector probe, 9.8-mm tip). The probe was inserted into the saline-filled sphenoid sinus after the sellar floor was opened. Intra- and suprasellar images were obtained just before dural incision and after the tumor removal was thought to have been accomplished. RESULTS: In all patients, the tumor was depicted as a slightly hyperechoic mass, as compared with the cerebrum. Using color Doppler imaging, major cerebral arteries were depicted clearly in 74% of patients. The pituitary glands, pituitary stalks, and optic chiasms were observed in patients with small adenomas, but not when large adenomas were present. Cavernous sinus invasion, concomitant aneurysm, and residual tumor were clearly visualized. In patients with large adenomas, the end point of surgery was decided when there was an ultrasonographically demonstrated collapsed tumor capsule, subcapsular total vacancy, and reappearance of the optic chiasm. CONCLUSION: Trans-sellar color Doppler ultrasonography seems to be a useful intraoperative guiding system that may improve the safety and efficacy of transsphenoidal surgery.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1998

[Complication of infection in malnutritional status].

Recently, the therapeutic guideline has been mentioned in opportunistic infection of the compromised host, and many observations regarding complication of infection in these hosts have been reported. However, there were few reports in the relationship between infection and immune function or nutritional status. In this study, we confirmed that the nutritional status influences immune function in patients with lung cancer, hepatoma and renal failure, and that malnutrition markedly reduces their immunity. In patients after operation who where the pre-operative assessment of the nutritional status was performed an attempt to improve the nutritional status has been already made to improve their prognosis. Therefore, we emphasize that the management of the nutritional status even in hosts with many other diseases is thought to be important in protection against infection and prognosis of the disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Growth hormone (GH) insensitivity syndrome with high serum GH-binding protein levels caused by a heterozygous splice site mutation of the GH receptor gene producing a lack of intracellular domain.

Most of the GH receptor (GHR) gene abnormalities causing GH insensitivity syndrome (GHIS) are located in the region coding the extracellular domain, and serum GH-binding protein (GHBP) levels, determined by ligand-mediated immunofunctional assay, are low in most of the patients with GHIS. We present here a heterozygous point mutation of the donor splice site in intron 9 of the GHR gene in two Japanese siblings with GHIS, whose serum GHBP levels were high. The same mutation was found in their mother as well. The analysis of ribonucleic acid from the peripheral leukocytes revealed complete skipping of exon 9 from one allele, but not the other, in the GHR complementary DNA and appearance of a premature stop codon in exon 10. The translated protein was truncated with deletion of 98% of the intracellular domain of the GHR, including boxes 1 and 2, which are critical for GH signal transduction and GHR internalization, respectively. Recently, it was shown that the truncated GHR lacking the intracellular domain was physiologically present in a minute amount, served as a negative regulator for GH signaling, and possessed increased capacity to generate GHBP. Therefore, the mutation found in our patients caused the pathogenetic production of the truncated GHR with a dominant negative effect on GH signaling, which is probably responsible for their short stature and high serum GHBP levels.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Optimum conditions for the 13C-phenylalanine breath test.

We have conducted optimization studies to develop a superior 13C-phenylalanine breath test for the diagnosis of liver disease. First, we examined the optimum 13C-labeling position in phenylalanine for use in a breath test based on infrared spectroscopic detection of 13CO2 in exhaled air. L-[1-13C]Phenylalanine gave the best result. Next, a suitable dosage to give a short peak time (the time expressed in minutes at which 13CO2 excretion is maximal) after administration was determined. The 13CO2/12CO2 ratio in exhaled air after administration of 100 mg/body of L-[1-13C]phenylalanine peaked sharply at 15 min. We also examined the effect of food on the hepatic metabolism of L-[1-13C]phenylalanine. We found that a fasting period of over 7 h before the test resulted in a higher 13CO2 peak excretion. The peak appeared sooner than that in the 13C-phenacetin breath test and, therefore, the 13C-phenylalanine breath test appears preferable for the rapid evaluation of hepatic function.

Breath Tests↗
PubMed1998

Screening system for urease inhibitors using 13C-NMR.

Urease inhibitors are candidate drugs to treat infection with the human pathogen, Helicobacter pylori, which produces a potent urease [urea amidohydrolase; EC 3.5.1.5]. We developed a screening system based on 13C-NMR measurement of the time course of decrease in the signal of 13C-urea in the presence of urease. The effect on urease activity of known inhibitors, hydroxamic acids, L-ascorbic acid, 2,2'-dipyridyl disulfide and ninhydrin, was speedily and conveniently measured by this method.

Binding, Competitive↗
PubMed1998

Impaired peripheral vasoconstriction in response to alpha-adrenergic stimulation in patients with idiopathic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Exercise hypotension has been documented in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Some investigators reported that this is due to an inadequate increase of systemic vascular resistance during or after exercise. The aim of this study was to investigate the pathogenesis of limb vascular response abnormalities in patients with idiopathic HCM. Thirteen patients with HCM and 9 healthy controls were administered an endothelium-dependent dilator (acetylcholine), a direct smooth muscle dilator (nitroglycerin), an alpha-adrenergic stimulator (phenylephrine), and a beta-adrenergic stimulator (isoproterenol) by intra-arterial infusion. Peripheral vascular resistance was assessed by forearm plethysmography at rest and during each infusion to obtain the percentage change in vascular resistance. Isoproterenol, acetylcholine and nitroglycerin produced dose-related vasodilatation with no significant differences between HCM patients and healthy controls. The percentage increase in vascular resistance was significantly less in HCM patients than in healthy controls after phenylephrine infusions of 0.5 microg/min (155+/-38% vs 195+/-47%, mean+/-SD, p<0.05) and 1.0 microg/min (174+/-49% vs 238+/-65%, p<0.05). Vasoconstriction mediated by alpha-adrenergic receptors appeared to be impaired in the peripheral vasculature of patients with HCM.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗
PubMed1998

[Mercury sensitization induced by environmental exposure].

We investigated mercury sensitization in relation to urinary and hair mercury concentrations. Patch tests were performed on 215 medical students and these tests demonstrated that 28 students were mercury-sensitized (13.0%). Life-styles were studied by questionnaire in 26 of the mercury sensitized students and 46 of the non-sensitized subjects. Urinary mercury concentrations were measured in 25 sensitized and 46 non-sensitized and hair mercury concentrations were measured in 19 sensitized and 22 non-sensitized subjects. The eating of fish was not significantly associated with mercury sensitization (one-tailed t-test). The number of teeth treated with metals in the sensitized group was significantly higher than in the control group (6.8 +/- 4.3 in sensitized vs. 4.8 +/- 4.1 in non-sensitized, one-tailed t-test. p < 0.05). The usage of mercurochrome was not significantly associated with mercury sensitization (chi-squared test). Urinary mercury concentrations were not significantly higher in sensitized subjects. Hair mercury concentrations were significantly higher in sensitized subjects (1.98 +/- 0.91 micrograms/g in sensitized vs. 1.23 +/- 0.53 in non-sensitized, one-tailed t-test p < 0.05). These results suggest that mercury sensitization is associated with increased hair mercury concentrations but not with urinary mercury concentrations. In this study it is confirmed that dental amalgam for treating teeth may be an important factor relating to mercury sensitization.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

A huge coronary aneurysm resulting from a coronary artery-to-left ventricle fistula.

A huge coronary aneurysm resulting from a coronary artery-to-left ventricle fistula is a rare condition. A 57-year-old male had severe recurrent angina attacks. The cause of angina pectoris was a right coronary artery-to-left ventricle fistula with a huge coronary aneurysm. The histological examination of surgically excised specimens revealed that two vertical smooth muscle layers of media of the aneurysm might be associated with dysplasia. Mucoid degeneration was also shown in the intima and around the vasa-vasorum. Abnormal hemodynamics related to the fistula might have induced these vessel wall changes resulting in the huge coronary aneurysm.

Angina Pectoris↗
PubMed1998

Subsidence of seizure induced by stereotactic radiation in a patient with hypothalamic hamartoma. Case report.

The authors report on a patient who exhibited intractable epilepsy due to an inaccessible hypothalamic hamartoma and subsequently underwent stereotactic radiosurgery. This 25-year-old man had a 24-year history of intractable gelastic and tonic-clonic seizures. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging performed at examination as well as that performed 30 months earlier demonstrated a nonenhancing and nonprogressive spherical mass, approximately 10 mm in diameter, located on the patient's right side at the floor of the third ventricle. Focal radiation treatment performed with a gamma knife unit administered 36 Gy to the center and 18 Gy to the periphery of the lesion. This treatment resulted in an improvement in seizure control. Before the patient underwent radiosurgery, he suffered from three to six generalized seizures per month in spite of attentive compliance with an anticonvulsant medication regimen. After irradiation of the harmatoma, the frequency of the seizures transiently increased and then subsided 3 months posttreatment. The patient has been free of seizures for the last 21 months, with no neurological or endocrinological complications. Magnetic resonance imaging performed 12 months posttreatment demonstrated complete disappearance of the lesion.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Myopathy with cerebral white matter abnormality--a case report].

A 45-year-old man noticed mild numbness of the feet at the age of 40 years and difficulty in standing up from squatting position at 43 years. His birth and developmental milestones were normal and the family history was unremarkable. He was alert and intelligent with global IQ of 91. There was mild muscle weakness as well as atrophy in bilateral hips and thighs. The serum creatine kinase level was 542 U/l. On computed tomography, the hamstrings were preferentially involved. The biopsied specimens from the right quadriceps femoris and peroneal muscles showed myogenic changes with evidence of necrotic and regenerating process. Dystrophin, dystrophin-associated glycoproteins and merosin were normally expressed. From the clinical and pathologic findings, he was diagnosed as having myopathy. The electroencephalogram was normal but the P300 latency was prolonged. T2-weighted head magnetic resonance imaging showed diffuse high intensity in the cerebral white matter. Myopathy with cerebral white matter abnormality in adult patients has not yet been reported. Asymptomatic cerebral white matter abnormality should be considered in adult patients with myopathy.

Brain Diseases↗
PubMed1998

[A case of pulmonary sarcoidosis with multiple cavitation and pneumothorax].

We describe a rare case of pulmonary sarcoidosis with multiple cavitation and pneumothorax. A 32-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a dry cough and an interstitial shadow with dense infiltrates in both upper lungs and cavitation in the right upper lung on chest roentgenogram and CT. Laboratory tests revealed an elevated level of serum lysozyme. BAL fluid demonstrated a high proportion of lymphocytes with an increased CD4/CD8 ratio, compatible with sarcoidosis. Transbronchial lung and skin biopsies showed evidence of noncaseating epithelioid-cell granuloma, and a diagnosis of sarcoidosis was made. Although pneumothorax appeared in the left lung on chest roentgenogram during clinical observation conservative treatment without corticosteroids or any other therapy for a follow-up period of 3 years resulted in improvement of her clinical condition and abnormal X-ray findings.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Comparison of percentage area of myocardial fibrosis and disarray in patients with classical form and dilated phase of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

This study compared the percentage area of myocardial fibrosis and disarray between hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and DHCM (progression to dilatation of the left ventricle in patients with HCM, i.e., dilated phase HCM), and investigated whether DHCM is included in the natural course of HCM. Twenty-six autopsied hearts were studied, 14 from patients with HCM, and 12 from patients with DHCM, classified by age/decade group. The section at the level of the binding site of papillary muscle was used for the morphometrical examination. In the overall evaluation of both ventricles, all 4 HCM age groups showed percentage area of myocardial fibrosis < 10%, and the value gradually increased with age. In contrast, the percentage area of the DHCM cases was over 20%, and these cases showed diffuse massive fibrosis that did not increase with age. The percentage area of myocardial disarray was over 90% in 3 cases with DHCM. The percentage areas of myocardial fibrosis and disarray of the DHCM hearts were extremely high compared with the HCM hearts, indicating that DHCM is not included in natural course of HCM. Other abnormalities including contractile proteins may be important role in the widespread myocardial disarray leading to massive fibrosis in the pathogenesis of DHCM.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

[Leiomyosarcoma of the prostate: report of two cases].

We herein present two cases prostatic leiomyosarcoma. The first case was in a 45-year-old man who presented at our department with the chief complaints of pain on voiding and pollakisuria on November 13, 1996. Ultrasonography and computed tomographic (CT) scan revealed a prostatic tumor. A histological examination of biopsy specimens revealed leiomyosarcoma of the prostate. Total prostatectomy and partial cystectomy were performed. No adjuvant therapy was performed. He is still alive without disease 12 months after operation. The second case was in a 63-year-old man who was admitted to our hospital for treatment of a lung tumor and colon polyp on February 28, 1997. CT scans showed a large prostatic tumor and multiple tumors in the lung, liver and bilateral kidneys. He was referred to our department for evaluation of the prostatic tumor. A transrectal needle biopsy of the prostate for histological diagnosis revealed leiomyosarcoma. No treatment was performed and he died 3 months later. In addition, 57 cases of prostatic leiomyosarcoma collected from the Japanese literature are also reviewed.

Cystectomy↗
PubMed1997

Leptin induces mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent proliferation of C3H10T1/2 cells.

Leptin, secreted by adipocytes, regulates satiety and energy expenditure. Several forms of leptin receptors produced by alternative mRNA splicing are found in many tissues, including the hypothalamus, liver, lung, kidney, hematopoietic cells, and gonads, suggesting that leptin exerts effects in these tissues. In accordance with the distribution of leptin receptors, there is accumulating evidence that leptin plays various roles in reproduction, hematopoiesis, and the immune systems in addition to the regulation of food intake and energy expenditure. In the present study, we examined the in vitro effects of leptin on proliferation of a mouse embryonic cell line, C3H10T1/2, and its mechanism of action. Leptin caused a dose- and time-dependent increase in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity that was accompanied by an increase in C3H10T1/2 cell number. The MAPK kinase-1-specific inhibitor PD98059 completely blocked the increases in both MAPK activity and cell proliferation caused by leptin. These findings indicate that leptin stimulates the proliferation of C3H10T1/2 cells via the MAPK cascade.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Isolation of the mouse (MFH-1) and human (FKHL 14) mesenchyme fork head-1 genes reveals conservation of their gene and protein structures.

The very recently found evolutionarily conserved DNA-binding domain of 100 amino acids, termed the fork head domain, emerged from a sequence comparison of the rat hepatocyte transcription factor HNF-3 alpha and the homeotic gene fork head of Drosophila. We previously isolated a new member of this family, the mesenchyme fork head-1 (MFH-1) gene, which is expressed in developing mesenchyme. Here we describe the isolation of the mouse (MFH-1) and human (FKHL14) chromosomal MFH-1 genes and the determination of the gene and protein structures of MFH-1. We found that the MFH-1 gene has no introns and that the identity of the amino acid sequences of mouse and human MFH-1 proteins is 94%. We also investigated the transcriptional activity of the mouse and human MFH-1 proteins and found that both proteins act as positive transactivators.

Amino Acid Sequence↗